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Why does the Tell Atlas receive more rainfall than the Saharan Atlas?

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Map showing the Atlas Mountains across Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia in North Africa, with color shading to indicate elevation changes. Major mountain ranges, cities, rivers, and physical features such as the High Atlas, Anti-Atlas, Saharan Atlas, and surrounding deserts are labeled. An inset locator map highlights the region's position in northern Africa. — Atlas Mountains The Atlas Mountains.

The Tell Atlas receives more rainfall than the Saharan Atlas primarily due to the influence of air masses and the geographic exposure of the mountain ranges.1

The Atlas Mountains serve as a meeting point for two distinct air masses: cold, humid polar air arriving from the north and hot, dry tropical air moving up from the south. Because the Tell Atlas is situated further north and closer to the Mediterranean coast, it is more directly exposed to the humid, moisture-bearing air masses. In contrast, the Saharan Atlas is positioned further south, where it is more heavily influenced by the hot, dry tropical air masses originating from the Sahara.1

Additionally, within any given massif, rainfall is heavily dictated by aspect; slopes with a northern exposure receive more precipitation than those facing south. The Tell Atlas benefits from this northern orientation relative to the moisture sources, whereas the Saharan Atlas is shielded from these humid influences.1